Device for operating upon fluidal matter



July 1,1930. H. G. LYYKKEN 1,768,620

DEVICE FOR OPERATING UlfON FLUIDAL MATTER Filed July 2, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 j f ui.

42 II] I July 1, 1930. H. G. LYKKEN 1,768;620

DEVICE- FOR OPERATING UPON'FLUIDAL MATTER I Y Filed July 2, 1925 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'n lllllllllll 39 Invert/Z07":

to ing is preferably variable ei Patented 1,

UNITED ,STATES,

PATENT orrlca I HENRY e. LYKKEN, on mmivmoms, mmmsomn nmcn non ornaments Application filed July 2,

The present invention relates to devices for producing and handling pulverized or fiuidal matter. Among the objects'of the invention is to aprovide a novel se arator or classifier for separating given no particles of matter and conveying the separated particles to a place of use, such as to a combustion chamber of a furnace or similar device where the material; used is powdered or pulverized fuel. The material is referably first crushed and pulverized an the pulverized material is preferably cast or pro]ected into a stream through which a fluid, such as air, Ia'may be drawn to carry.part of the projected material from the projected stream thereof, in a state of suspension to a separating point, the airacting as a medium of conveyance and suspension, and also as a supporter of combustion at the ,point of use.

To effect classifying separation of the fines fromthe coarser particles or the fine particles that are wet or laden with moisture, the invention comprehends the feeding of the stream of air and suspended particles tangentially or similarly into a classifying or separating chamber so that the mass may be given a centrifugal action, a whirl, eddy or vortex action, or a cyclonic action, so

so that the finer particles, not laden with moisture, may be carried with the air stream to the place of use, perferably by way of a blower or a exhaust fan, or similar draft means creating a drawing action on the air -35, and suspended particles in the pulverizing and separating mechanisms.

The classifier or separator, in a specific form, has an outer chamber or casing connected with a pulverizing device andhaving 43 an end wall having an outlet connection to the exhaust fan, this chamber acting as a passage for the material and air. Within this chamber .is preferably provided an inner chamber specifically in the form of a 45 hollow cone being open at both ends, the

larger open end of which being so located that the flow of the material and air may be from the outer chamber into the inner chamber through such opening. This opent or by moving UPON FLUIDAL MATTER. 1925. serial No. 41,166.

the inner chamber to or from'an end of the outer. chamber so as to decrease or increasesuch opening, or by interposing a movable 1 sleeve between the openend of the inner chamber and the space of the outer chamber, such that the raising ofthe sleeve will de-. crease the opening and the lowering of the sleeve will increasethe opening. I

Between the open larger end'of the inner chamber and the walls of the outer chamber, is preferably provided arset or .series of spaced vanes or blades so located that the stream and air proceeding toward the inner chamber will pass between and among these vanes or blades and be directed tangentially into the inner chamber through the larger open end thereof so as to produce the centrifugal action, whirl, eddy, vortex or' cyclonic action, or the like, above mentioned. The degree of this action will be controlled by the size of the opening or passage at the open end of the inner chamber and the degree of draft action effected by the feeding means or blower operating to convey the separated particles and air to the place of use.

The classifier or separator may also have, preferably, at its lower and smaller end a discharge outlet through which the coarser particles or the fine particles laden with moisture, may be discharged back into theouter chamber for return to the pulverizing device or for further suspension of the fine particles in the upwardly moving stream of air and suspended material, these particles being returned again to the separating chamber for separation. The discharge openin is preferably tapered and of a size to hol suflicient material to prevent a backfiow of air therein and also for permitting 9 an aspiration at the discharge end of this discharged opening b reason of the stream of air and suspende material blowing or flowing past such discharged end. Beneath this discharge opening is preferably provided a spreader for aiding and spreading the discharged material over a large area for a facile as iration of the material as it is. dischar e In this Way, when the particles are eing discharged, the upward P "flow of air will catch up some of the fine novel pulverizing means having means for projecting a stream of pulverized material against impact .members preferably arranged in different points so that the cast or projected material may be widely dispersed and thoroughly mixed. These impact members may be in the form of cross ars and arranged relatively proximate so as to restrict the area of the passages there-- between and increase the velocity of air passing upwardly between them and through the stream of material being projected thereagainst and dispersed thereby.

The air or other supporter of .combustion is preferably admitted in the lower part of the pulverizing device and drawn upwardly through the spaces between these bars and through the mass of material bein projected against these bars and disperse by them. The stream of air will then carry the particles of the material in suspension to the separating means, expansion of the fluidal mass occurring in the outer and inner cham- 1' bers of the separator, to permit the return of the coarse'particles, in addition to the separation efiected by the action in the inner chamber.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities are comprehended by the invention as will later appear and are inherently possessed by the invention. I

Referring to the drawings illustrating the invention,

Fig. 1 is 'a-vertical transvjerse sectional view taken throu h a device constructed in accordance with ;t e invention;'- 1

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the separator of the device; and,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through a modified form of the separator; d V Referring now-more in detail to the figures of the drawings the embodiment selected to illustrate the invention is shown as comprisin a pulverizing device having a casing 1 in w ich is rotatably mounted a pul verizing rotor 2 driven by a shaft 3 andv carrying pulverizing arms 4 cooperating with a corrugated pulverizing surface 5 and material 6 located in the "base of the chamber 1 so thata mulling action occurs between the material carried between the hammers 4 and the surface of the material 6 located in the bottom of the pulverizer.

At the upper-part of the pulverizer is located a hopper, in which the material, such separating device.

as coal 8 may be placed for crushing by a crushing roll 9 operating upon the material and in cooperation with a plate 10 pivotally mounted upon a pivot 11 securedto the casing of the pulverizer. The plate lO-has secured to it an arm 12 carryinga weight 13 which may be adjusted on the arm 12 as desired. The plate-l0 is held in a position with reference to crushing roll so as to gauge the size of this material to be crushed. A supporting member 14 may be provided on the pulverizer so as to hold the arm 12 in proper positionfor the plate 10 to be in gauging position with reference to the crushing roll 9. The crushed material is then fed into a chamber 15- where the material is acted upon by .a feeding roll 16. It is desired that the material be fed into the chamber 15 at a greater rate than the feeding roll feeds into t e hopper 7.- If an piece be engaged by the feedin roll 16 0 greater size than would be or inarily permitted to pass, a release gate 18 normally held inplace by spring 19 will yield to permit the passage of such piece. The material is fed by gravity' into the chamber of the pulverizer and on the discharge side of the pulverizing rotor 2. If there are any hard and non-crushable pieces fed into the chamber, the hammers 4 will impact them at initial contact with sufiicient force to cast them downwardly into the bottom-of the chamber 1 and to imbed them in the fuel or other material without in any way carrying them around with the rotor, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. 7 p

The material being ground will be cast substantially horizontally against the impact members 20 and 21 preferably in the form of castbars supported by suitable transverse members 22 and 23 secured to the side walls of the pulverizer.

At the opposite side of the pulverizer chamber is provided an air inlet passage 24 leading into the lower part of the pulverizing chamber. Beneath the passage 24 is also provided an opening or passage 25 through which the material accumulated in Above the space 26 in which the material may be cast by the rotor is connected an ext pansion chamber or outer casing 27 of a This casing has an end wall 28 from which leads an outlet connection 29 having a top plate 30, and a discharge opening 31 connected with a conduit leading to anexhaust fan (not shown) adapted to draw the material through the tion chamber of a furnace or similar place drawn when it is desired'to clean the same.

separator and-to feed the same to a combus- I the cone 33 and into the same so as to proof use. Within the outer chamber 27 is located an inner chamber 32 preferably of hollow cone shape having an opening 33 in its upper and larger end and a discharge opening 34 at its lower and smaller end. This chamber may be supported by means of a rod 35 secured to a spider 36 attached, in any suitable manner, to the side walls of the cone 32. The lower end of the rod 35 may be also secured to a cone shaped member or spreader 37, the upper surface 38 of which convergeswith reference to the surface 39 of the discharge end of the cone. In this waythe annular throat or discharge passage 34 is-tapered as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The upper end of the .rod 35 is threaded to receive a thumb nut 40 whereby the cone may be suspended in adjusted position, a turnin of the nut 40 being of utility to adjust t e height of the cone as desired.

Within the outercasing'27 at the upper end thereof is provided a circular series of vanes or blades- 41 being. secured in any suitable manner at their inner ends 42 thereof to the inner wall of the casing 27 or to the upper end wall 28, as desired. These blades extend inwardly toward the upper open end of the cone and in proximity there: to so that the upward flow of air and suspended particles passing into the spaces between the vanes may be projected inwardly in a tangential direction into the space over duce a whirling or centrifugal actionof the mass of material and air. The cone 32 may be raised or lowered so as to vary the discharged openings between the blades and above the openend of the cone so as to in- 4 tensity or retard the projection of the material from'the spaces between the blades into the cone. This maybe also varied by thedegree of draft created by the exhaust fan. As the mass is caused, to act in the form 'of a -cyclone or eddyin the cone, the heavier particles will be carried toward the periphery or sidewalls of the cone 33 and will be carried downwardly through the discharge opening 32 thereof. Fine articles laden with moisture will also take t e same course as the coarse material. The fine and dry particles will be carried to the center with the air and will be drawn upwardly into the outlet 29 and discharge 31 to the exhaust fan which will convey the same to tational movement of the particles through" the throat. As the particles pass over the upper surface 38 of the spreader, and discharge into the space of the chamber 27, the upward flow of air and suspended particles will cause an aspiration at the opening of the throat 34 and will again carry up the fine particles which have moisture, and will dry the particles in their recirculation through the bladespaces and to the cone. The air may be heated if desired. These particles may then be separated with the other fine particles and be carried away for use. The heavier particles not carried upwardly, will return to the pulverizing chamber forv repulverizing or regrinding.

I The bars 20 and 21 are so located at different points in the path of discharge of the material from the hammers 4so as to causethe material cast thereupon to be dispersed in various directions. The draft created by the fan will cause an inflow of air through the passage 24 into the lower part of the grinding chamber and upwardly through the path of the material projected by the rotor and the material dispersed by the bars 20 and 21. These bars may be of large size and sos aced from each other as to cause restrict'e spaces between them whereby the velocity of the air in such spaces may beincreased. The upward flow of the airwill-then carry the particles in suspension to the separating chamber.

, Additional bars-43 may be placed in the passage from the grinding chamber to the separating chamber 27 to aid in restricting the passages and effecting tortuous paths to cause an increase of velocity and dispersion effect of the upward flow of air and suspended material.

In Fig. 3 the classifying or separating device is similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, but for the purpose of adjusting the discharge openings from the inter-vane spaces, a sleeve 44, preferably of cylindrical form, and located between the periphery of the cone 32 and the inner edges 45015 the vanes may be suspended by means of supporting 'rods 46 the top wall 28 for exterior access for adthreaded at their upper" ends to receive justment. In this connection the cone 32 may be adjusted as desired, but the adjustment may also be made by raising and -low-. ering the sleeve 44.

. The raising and lowering of either the cone or the sleeve will vary the size of the openings between the vanes through which the material-and air passes, this mass passing with a whirling action into, the upper j portion of the cone. As the mass is causedto rotate in the form of a cyclone or eddy in the cone, the centrifugal action will cast the i is heavier and coarser particles to the inclined walls of the coneand the finer particles will be carried upwardly and through the passage 29, The heavier and coarser partlcles will coast down to the opening 34 to be-discharged. into the passage of the chamber27 foreither' reaspiration, as above explained, or for return to the chamber of the grinder or pulverizer for further reduction in size.

When the cone or sleeve 24 is lowered and greater openings are effected at the dischar e of the vanes, a decrease in tangential veloclty of the mass is effected and consequently there is a less tendency to throw the co arse material outwardly by centrifugal action, thus effecting a carrying of a greater amount of heavier and coarser material, or in other words, the material carried away by the air to the point of use is heavier and coarser than if the velocity were greater.

- A raising of the cone or sleeve will increase vanes and into the cone.

the velocity of projection of the material and air into the cone and thus produce a greater throwing down of the heavier-and coarser particles and the retaining or sepaaway rating'of finer particles to be carried by the air stream to the point of use. Only a part of the fine material is thus carried away, the fine particles which are laden with moisture being carried down with the coarse particles and fed out of the lower end of the cone for reaspiration by the upward stream of air and material passing through the In this wa the fineness of the material ultimately use may be controlled to a fine degree. The reaspiration of thefine particles laden with moisture, will eife'ct an extraction of the moisture therefrom so that the fine particles will then be separated in the cone with the other fine particles and be carried away for use.

a From the above it will be apparent'that the a While I have herein the drawings shown a few embodiments of se arating device has a dual function, that -o separating by centrifugal action and that of reaspiration. v

The group of rods 20, 21 and 43 may be regarded as-a dash gate which may be varied by var ing the sizes of the rods or the shape thereo to cause different degrees of dispersion of the materials. I

described and upon and the larger end of said cone, whereby fluidal matter passing in among said VflTleS will be directedby said vanes into a whirl in said cone.

' 2. Ina separator for acting 'on fluidal material, an outer casing, an nverted hollow cone therein, 'tangentlal vanes secured to said outer casing and located between said casing and the larger j end of said cone,.

whereby fluidal matter assing in-among said vanes will be directe by said vanes into a whirl in said cone, said cone being vertically adjustable relative'to said vanes.

3. In a separator for acting on fluidal material, an outer casing, an inverted hollow cone therein, spacelvanes surrounding the larger end of said cone and having their outer ends secured to the inner wall of said casing, said vanes being located to cause flow of the fluidal matter into said cone with a whirling act-ion.

4. In a separator for acting on fluidal ma. terial, spaced inner and outer hollow cham bers, asries of-spaced vanes therebetween for afiording a passage of the materialf among said vanes and for-directing the inaterial tangentially into said, inner chamber to cause a centrifugal actionjof the material in said inner chamber, said vanes being secured to said outer chamber.

5. In a separator for'actingor fluidal material, spaced inner and outer hollow chambers, a series of spaced vanes therebetween' for afior'ding a passage of the material among said vanes andifor directing the material tangentially into said inner chamber to cause a centrifugal action of the material in said inner chamber, said vanes being 186- -cured to said outer chamber, and means for varying the relation of said inner chamber and said vanes for varying the discharge of the material from among said vanes into said inner chamber. 8

' 6. A separating device comprising an up right hollow chamber having) an end wall,v

an inverted cone in said cham er and having its larger end, spaced from the end and side walls of the chamber, spaced vanes between the larger end of said cone and'said walls for providing passages from the interior of said chamber to the interior of said cone.

7. A separating device comprising an u right hollow chamber havin an end we 1, an inverted cone in" said chamber and having its larger end spaced from the end and side walls of the chamber, spaced vanesbetween the larger end of said cone and said walls for providing passages from the interior of said chamber to the interior of said cone,

a sleeve slidably located between said vanes and said cone for controlling the passages of material from said. vanes into said cone.

8. In a device for operating on powdered material, a casin a hollow cone in said casing, tangential y' arranged vanes outside the cone and between it and the casing wall 1 to which the vanes are fixed and means'for type having means regulating the fineness and the quantity of the fine product by vertically adjusting a hollow cone disposed between tangentially arranged vanes fixed in the surrounding cas- 9. In a fuel device having pulverizin means, a separating means having inner and outer casings with tangentially disposed vanes between said casings, said innercasing having means for discharging the oversize and surplus materialfor repulverizing.

10. In a se arating device, a chamber, a hollow cone t erein, vanes surrounding the cone and located in the chamber, means for.

varying the relation of the cone and the vanes, a discharge means. at the base of the cone and a spreader associated with said dis-' controlling the discharge through said outlet.

I .12. A separating chamber of the cyclonic type having means for directing material into a whirl into said chamber, and a tapered discharge outlet at the lower end of the chamber for the discharge of material accumulated therein, and means associated with said outlet whereby passage of material by said outlet will cause aspiration of the materialin said outlet.

13. A separator comprlsing an outer chamber having an open lower end and bein provided with an outlet at its upper en an inner chamber having an open upper and spaced from the upper end and the side of sald outer chamberto provide a passage from said outer chamber to said inner'chamber, tangentially located vanes between said inner chamber and the side .7 of said outer chamber; for causing a flow of air and .sus' ended particles of material to enter sai inner chamber in a whirl whereby the finer particles ma be separated and conveyed through said outlet, and a tapered valve for controlling .the discharge through said outlet. l

14. A separator comprising I an outer chamber having an open lower end and being provided withan outlet at its upper end an inner chamber having an open upper end spaced from the upper end and the side Y of said outer chamber to provide a passage from said outerchamber to said inner cham ber,'tangentially located; vanes in said passage between said inner and outer chambers for causing a flow ofair andsuspended particles of 'material to entersaid inner chamber in a whirl whereby the finer particles may be separated and conveyed through said outlet, and means movable between said vanes and the open upper end of said inner chamber forvarylng t e s1z e of 'said passage to control the fineness ofthe particles separated in saidwhirl. 15. A, pulverizing device comprising a pulverizing chamber having an air inlet, a

separator casing immediately above said pulverlzing chamber and communicating 3 therewith, said separating chamber having an air exhaust, so that an induced current of air may be maintained through both chambers, a rotatable pulverizer in said pulverizing, chamberand positioned 'late rally with respect to said separating chamber, so;

as to be located, to one travel of the induced air current, said pulverizer having means for dischargingpulverized material intosaid air stream, means side of the path of in said separator chamber for separating r the coarser particles from the finer particles of said material, and means within said separating chamber and located above said pulverizer for returning the remainmg particles to said air current by gravity, so that a supplemental separation of the said particles will be obtained.

16. In a fuel device, a separator having.

means for causing a s'treamofair to travel upwardly therethrough, means for throwing pulvenzed fuel laterall into saidair stream' so that the fuel particles will be carried thereby, means for classifying the fuel particles whilecarried by said air stream so as p to remove the coarser particles, and means for again depositing said removed particles, Y

and means for again depositing said removed particles directly into said air stream so that they are subjected to a second classi,-- -fication while travelling therewith.

17. A stoking device for pulverized fuel comprising a pulverizing chamber, a separator chamber immediately above. said pul verizing chamber and communicating there with, said separating chamber having an air exhaust so that an induced current of bers, a pulverlzing device in t e pulverizing chamber positioned laterally with respect to the separatin chamber so as to be located to one side '0 thepath of travel ofthe inair may be'maintained throu h both chamduced air current, said pulverizer having means for discharging pulverized-fuel into said air stream,

means in" the separating chamber for separating the finer particles "of fuel from the coarser particles while being conveyed by said air stream, means for.

the, coarserparticles to be 'rereturning for caus ng sald reground, and means turned particles to enter-said air stream berecover any lighter fore regrinding so as to be carried thereby.

constituents which ma 1&- In a stoking fuel, means for pulveri'zing the fuel and (11.8-

evice for powdered j verlzed, andmeans for causing the returned charging the same laterally, a separator positioned laterally of and above-the p'ulverizer and having an exhaust opening so that an 1nduced. current of a1r may be mamtained through said stream of pulverized fuel, means for separating the finer constituents from the fuel conve ed by said air stream, means for control ingthe fineness of the particles being separated,vmeans for returning the coarser particles-to be repulparticles to pass through said air stream so as't'o effect a supplemental separation.

In witness whereof, I. hereunto subscribe specification.

HENRY G. LYKKEN. a

my name to this 

